How To Use Task Lighting Effectively

When working with fine details or hard-to-see items, proper task lighting can make the difference between quick success and agonizing frustration. Unlike ambient light, which illuminates the entire space (think overhead lights), task lighting focuses on a specific work area.

We brought together a group of interior designers, lighting consultants and retailers, and asked them how DIYers can make the best use of task lighting.

Why Is Task Lighting Important?

The first thing to understand, according to interior designer and Color Caravan founder Nicole Cullum, is what sets task lighting apart from ambient and accent lighting.

“Those unsightly can lights your builder put up everywhere? That’s ambient lighting,” Cullum says. “Accent lighting is your table lamps, sconces, pendants and chandeliers.”

As your posture shifts, or you need to look at your work from different angles, ambient light doesn’t provide proper illumination. And that isn’t even considering naturally-dim work areas. Dara Greaney, the CEO of LEDLightExpert.com, points out you almost always need task lighting when working underneath a car.

Where Should You Use Task Lighting?

Anywhere you perform detailed work. “No one wants to struggle to see what they’re chopping in the kitchen, or squint over papers at your desk,” says Cullum.

For typical homeowners, the kitchen and home office are the most likely locations. But DIYers often use task lighting in places like:

• In the garage: Task lighting greatly eases work on (or under) cars or other large equipment.
• On or beside the workbench: An adjustable task light mounted on or near a workbench can reduce eyestrain.
• Mounted on power tools: Some come with built-in LEDs, while others benefit from magnetic or clamp-on lights.
• On your head: Headlamps are a quick and easy way to shed light directly on a task.

What To Look for in DIY Task Lighting

DIY workspaces can vary wildly in size, ambient lighting and the nature of the work. Joe Barone, a lighting consultant for Farrey’s, stresses the importance of finding the right solution for your specific circumstances.

“Consider the specific tasks performed in the space,” he says, “and choose lighting with the appropriate brightness and color temperature [see below] to enhance visibility and reduce eye strain.”

Here are some key points to look for when selecting task lighting for your workspaces.

LED vs. incandescent

LED bulbs make more robust workshop task lights than incandescent bulbs. Incandescents generate light by heating a thin filament. But workbench activity like hammering, drilling and cutting cause vibrations that can snap that filament. While LEDs can certainly fail prematurely, they’re a better overall fit for harsh work environments.

Adjustable

Task lights must shine where you need them.

Joel Worthington, the president of Mr. Electric, recommends swing-arm lamps or clamp lights, while Greaney suggests LED strip lights on an adjustable arm. “Tripod lighting is also very popular,” Greaney says, adding task lighting can be put on wheels for a larger workshop or garage.

Dimmable

Adjust the brightness of task lights to reduce glare or boost illumination. The more your ambient light varies, the more this will matter.

Rugged construction

Lights with a metal frame can last for years. Durable plastic may also work, though in garages that aren’t temperature controlled, some plastics become brittle.

Bench dog friendly

Bench dogs are wooden blocks that slide into pre-drilled holes on a workbench top. They allow quick, secure placement of clamps and work material. If your task light can be attached to a bench dog, you can place it in almost any position on your workbench.

Pro tip: If your task light comes with a magnetic base, simply screw a metal washer to a wooden bench dog for an instant dog-friendly light.

Bolts, not rivets

Ideally, adjustable lights will be assembled with nuts and bolts rather than rivets. That way, the joints can easily be adjusted by loosening and tightening the nuts.

Even better, replace one nut on each joint with a wingnut. Move your light to the perfect angle, then tighten the wingnut to lock it into place. You’ll have the convenience of an adjustable light with the stability of a fixed frame.

Color temperature

Color temperature describes how “warm” or “cool” the light appears. It’s measured in degrees Kelvin (K). Yellow-tinged soft white light is around 2,500K, while blue-tinged cool light is around 5,500K. GE Lighting recommends that task lighting should be 3,500K to 4,500K.

“For detailed, up close work, you want a bright, clear colored bulb,” Cullum says. “Think daylight bulbs that will give you a crisp, clear, brilliant light so you can see what you’re working on.”

Common Mistakes To Avoid

As a parting bit of wisdom, Worthington recommends avoiding these common task lighting mistakes:

• Not enough light: Make sure the light is bright enough to do the job.
• Glare: Too much light on a reflective surface can be counterproductive. Dimmers can fix this.
• Shadows: Position the light to shine on the work, not on your hands or tools.
• Using the wrong fixture: A table lamp with a cute shade may look great, but won’t compete with an actual task light.

About the Experts

• Joel Worthington is the president of Mr. Electric, a role he’s held since 2014. He brings a unique blend of leadership, operational expertise and dedication to improving the industry.
• Dara Greaney is the CEO and founder of LEDLightExpert.com, an e-commerce lighting retailer. A nine-time INC5000 CEO, he’s an expert in growing products and brands that resonate with customers.
• Joe Barone knows lighting. His commercial and residential projects represent luxury and style in South Florida. He’s a consultant with Farrey’s Lighting.
• Nicole Cullum is an interior designer and professional organizer in Taos, New Mexico.